I whine briefly as Dr. Moore switches on the nebulizer at the same time that Jamie finishes his sentence. My eyes are closed as I lean forward in the chair. I can hear the wheels of another cart move in front of me. I tense slightly as the unexpected touch of Jamie’s hands holds me in place at my shoulders.
“Just breathe as normally as you can without hurting yourself. I just need to listen.”
I nod briefly as I link with Jamie again.
“Dr. Moore, could he have a fleece blanket or flannel sheet to wrap around his shoulders? Taking his shirt off makes him feel really exposed and he tends to get cold easily.”
I whisper a ‘Thank you’ through the link while waiting for Dr. Moore to respond. “Andrew, Beta Williams. I have a feeling that I may be working with the two of you a lot so when it’s just us, Andrew is fine. If you wish, I can give you the same courtesy. It already sounds like Cole would prefer that.”
“Yes sir. If you don’t mind, it’s Jamie.”
I feel the vibrations in the floor as he walks away, hopefully to get some sort of blanket as the chill in the room is starting to get to me in a bad way. The room is silent except for the buzz of the nebulizer and my high pitched wheeze.
“Sit back for me Cole. I’m going to recline this seat so it’s easier for you to relax.”
I startle and can’t keep my desire to fight in check as he attempts to pull me back against the seat. If it wasn’t for Jamie standing in front of me, I surely would have fled the room.
“You’re in no shape to run and he’s trying to help you. He’s nothing like anyone you’ve encountered at Red General.”
“I’ve heard that’s a right nasty place to be. Do you end up there often, Cole?”
I lay my head against Jamie’s shoulder whispering an apology repeatedly in my head.
“Step back, let’s get you back in the chair and on the nebulizer.”
I nod my head and step backwards in response to his gentle pressure. It seems Alpha Black’s recognition of who he truly is to me has given him a level of confidence I’m not used to. I lean back in the chair once I’m seated again. It’s a struggle for me to remain still as the soft fabric of a fleece throw blanket is wrapped around my shoulders.
“It appears that you have a lot more going on than just an asthma attack. Are you willing to confirm that you’re also having a panic attack?”
I nod my head while linking with Jamie.
“Yes sir, he is.”
“Okay, so I’m not liking what I’m seeing or hearing with you Cole.”
His voice is stern and steady alerting me to his seriousness as he places the pulse oximeter on my finger.
“With consideration to how late it is at night I think it would be best if you stay the night with me.”
I gasp as I struggle to get out of the chair. Last thing I want is to stay the night in the hospital and I’m going to find a way to leave.
“No Cole, you can’t leave. He didn’t say he was putting you in the hospital.”
He speaks out loud as he tries to keep me in the chair.
“What do you normally take to calm the panic attack?”
“Alpha Black used the sublingual Ativan while he was at Crimson Dawn.” Jamie answers.
“Stay in the chair with the nebulizer, I’m going to get the Ativan.”
I collapse back into the chair, my breathing is constricted enough that I really don’t have the energy to fight. He pulls the stool he’s sitting on closer to the chair, helping me adjust the way I’m reclined.
“I’m not sure how we did it but it seems like our links have locked. I can hear everything that you’re thinking.”
He answers quietly the question I can’t ask out loud.
“I need you to talk to me as your reaction to being here isn’t normal and I believe something big is going on with you.”
I shake my head vigorously as he takes the mask from my hand. My fight renews even more now that he wants to talk. Talking doesn’t help me. Oddly, all I can think about is the offer of sanctuary back at Crimson Dawn. I don’t fight for long before Jamie jumps in to help. I freeze completely as his hand snakes its way onto the back of my neck.
“I’m sorry it’s the only thing I can think of right now.”
He whispers as I feel the doctor’s gloved hand on my mouth.
“This isn’t the best way to handle your level of fear but considering your home hospital has likely caused a lot of the anxiety that I’m seeing forcing you to take the medication you asked for is better than resorting to the shots.”
I relax my jaw, allowing him to place the pill into my mouth at the mention of receiving shots.
“You’ve been mistreated with the shots, haven’t you?”
He responds quietly to my sudden allowance of the pill to enter my mouth. I close my eyes, concentrating solely upon my breathing. My fight has resulted in me lying on my side making it easier for the pill to fall underneath my tongue.
“I’m going to give the two of you some quiet time so that medication has time to help calm you down. Your oxygen is lower than I like to see so I’m going to switch you over to that before I step into my office. I’m going to call Beta Michael to come and listen in on our conversation. He’s a member of the council that was assigned to be Alpha Whiteman’s beta. He’s brought a lot of good to the pack and I think he needs to know what’s going on as much as I do.”
I don’t respond to his comment. If anything it’s made me even more nervous to interact with Beta Michael knowing that he’s a member of the council. I am truly lost as the only thing I can think about is how foolish I am. Dad changed the plans and I should have known that it was a trick. The grand finale of me legally leaving the territory by giving him an excuse to tear into me worse than any previous time that I’ve been away in the program.
“Don’t think like that.”
Jamie’s statement reminds me of the accidental lock that we’ve created with each other. I remain still as Dr. Andrew slips the oxygen cannula under my nose, the familiar tickling of the concentrated air causing me to sneeze briefly after he fits the tubing around my ears. I groan from the pain it causes my already burning lungs. I’m surprised to feel his hand, gentle but firm against my chest.
“Just be still.”
I try to follow his direction but the vibration that hits my lungs is too much for me to handle. I lean into his hand, wrapping my own around his as I go into a coughing fit that I can’t stop. I fight desperately to breathe despite the pain of my lungs refusing to open. I can feel Dr. Moore lean into me in an effort to keep me still without adding restrictions to my breathing. I whine quietly as the attack settles down. I’m exhausted and my chest hurts.
“He’s in a lot of pain doc.” Jamie barely whispers loud enough to be heard. I know he can feel my guilt but he doesn’t say a word. “Cole, I need you to respond through your link with Jamie. Your lungs have freed up but are still constricted. Jamie said you’re in pain, where is it concentrated?” I place my hand in the center of my chest as I simultaneously think about the location. “Your chest?” He tries to confirm. “He says that it’s a constant ache that turns sharp when he breathes in. It’s hard for me to handle through the link. I don’t know if that helps any with the intensity he’s feeling.” He stands up straight, keeping one hand on my chest. The one holding the stethoscope to my back is now gently gliding along my arm towards my neck. I whine sharply and squirm with the discomfort of his touch to the side of it. “Doctor Andrew, while he fears touch he also craves it. Positive touch I think is what Alpha Black calls it. He relaxes with gentle pets on his head. He can
Monday, July 23; 3pmIt’s been two days since our arrival at White Ridge and the only comfort I have in being here is that Dr. Moore is patient and kind. I don’t remember them moving me to his house. The last thing I do remember is his conversation with the beta and making plans to get in contact with my father and with Alpha Black. I have no idea if that has happened as I’ve refused to come out of the room he put me in. I was barely able to move from the medical observation room I woke up in, to the efficiency bedroom that Jamie and I will stay in for however long we’re here. Beta Greene helped Jamie and Dr. Moore’s personal omega, Sara, gather our things from the prospect’s apartments and bring them to Dr. Moore’s house. Despite having free access to my medication my fear is overwhelming and now that dad has stranded us at White Ridge even my wolf has his doubts about returning. He’s gone unusually quiet after apologizing for being so adamant that we leave when I really wanted to s
Jamie coaches me quietly over to the couch, waiting patiently for me to let him go and take a seat. It takes me several minutes before I’m able to pry my eyes from the floor enough to look around the room. I’m surprised to discover that the doctor and the beta have yet to join us. The room is indeed a library but it’s unlike any I’ve been in before. The room is longer than his office is wide, making me believe that it extends all the way to the other side of the wing. Bookshelves completely filled with books line the north wall from floor to ceiling separated into four equal sections. Windows with long beige curtains separate the ends from the center and a fireplace separates the center. A large eight by ten foot area rug sits beneath my feet donning a simple motif of beige, black, and magenta squares. I move my toes slowly across the fibers. They are short but soft, giving me something simple yet pleasing to concentrate on. The loveseat we sit on is comfortably plush with a magenta
“Good afternoon, Alpha Demetri. How are you doing?” “I’m doing well. How’s Cole fairing?” “He’s unfortunately on quite the roller coaster but I’m hoping this conference call will help him.” I stand just in front of the couch not certain what to make of the situation. “Cole, before we start talking too deeply I need to know if we need to cut the crap.” “Wh…. What?” I barely stammer, unable to comprehend what he’s asking me. “Do you remember the first time, the only time you have ever said that to me?” “Ye… yes sir.” “So I need you to slow down, think about the situation you were in then and tell me if we need to cut the crap.” His voice is stern, making me wonder if I’ve done something wrong. “No sir.” Hearing his voice has made it even more difficult to function. “Can you hand Cole the phone? I have an important question to ask him.” “You’re on speaker phone so he can hear you but yes, I can give him the phone for a little bit.” Alpha Andrew walks up to me with his hand
“I really didn’t want to talk about all this.” “I know it’s hard but the more we know the easier it will be to help you.” He encourages gently. I sigh hard before I start explaining. “Growing up everyone in class talked about the link and how it worked. It was quite embarrassing to admit that I had no idea what they were talking about.” “I’m certain that was especially difficult considering you’re the alpha’s son.” “Yes sir, it was. On top of what he was already doing to me, the bullying that came from not knowing my wolf at six years old was quite devastating. Chloe discovered me crying, hiding on the floor at the back of the bus. She told me that the school had called dad and he linked with her asking her to find me. I paid dearly for running away from class but on top of my punishment that evening he grabbed the back of my neck and growled at me; ‘you want to know about the link?’ It felt like my head exploded. I could hear him, feel him in my head. It felt like it took foreve
“Good. If at any time you feel overwhelmed let me know and feel free to ask questions. You as well, Demetri.” “Yes sir. Thank you, Andrew.” “Forty years ago Alpha Winston Whiteman was the only child out of five to survive a devastating rogue attack on the White Ridge pack. The council believes that it was only because he was the youngest child and the rogues didn’t know who he was that they allowed him to live. Members of the pack naturally knew who he was and while all alpha, beta and delta wolves were either killed or run off from the pack, the gamma and omega ranks were forced to assimilate into the pack the rogues created. Alpha Whiteman was three years old when the attack happened and it was fated mates Bruce and Emily Deeds who worked very closely with the Whiteman’s who ultimately saved his life. Emily was Winston’s personal nanny which made it so that when the rogues broke into the pack house Emily was able to grab Winston and run him to her house. The rogues left him belie
“I do believe that I was the first, although I also believe that others have followed. What happened was the council and committee in this region discovered an imbalance of power. The national committee members had recently passed regulations on how many both needed to have in each region. It was discovered that the committee in this region was low by ten members so they went to each of the ten regional council headquarters that they are in charge of and asked each one for a list of the members who they would consider promoting to the committee. I heard that it was an extensive process but considering my interview and promotion offer was at the tail end I wasn’t informed of everything that went into their decision. They were shocked when I told them I felt I still had work to settle at the council and I wasn’t willing to move unless I could come back. They never explained why but they allowed me to keep both positions and I was very active in both positions until eight years ago. As
“Something happens if you return after the deadline?” I shake my head trying to rid myself of the regular welcoming I tend to receive. “I only know what happens when I return with the rest of the prospects three months into a run. I’ve never been this close to his deadline.” “Your welcome home isn’t very welcoming, is it?” I shake my head again as I go silent. “Thank you. I understand better why Demetri and Xavier have taken steps to make your request to return so seriously so quickly. The current state of the council makes things move at a snail's pace and time is not on your side. You asked about information on operation underground. I believe your now secondary plan for returning to Crimson Dawn is reliant on it.” I nod my head but again stay silent. “As I said, I can’t get into details on how it works as that’s not something anyone knows until they are actively in it but I can give you history on how it got started.” I cock my head, curious to hear what was never taught in